PITTSBURGH: 2017 75-87, fourth place
MANAGER Clint Hurdle (seventh season)
ADDITIONS: OF Corey Dickerson, LHP Kyle Crick, RHP Joe Musgrove, RHP Michael Feliz, 3B Colin Moran
SUBTRACTIONS: CF Andrew McCutchen, RHP Gerrit Cole, RHP Daniel Hudson, C Chris Stewart, 1B John Jaso, RHP Joaquin Benoit OUTLOOK: General Manager Neal Huntington insists the Pirates are not rebuilding, but it certainly looks that way after they flipped franchise cornerstones McCutchen and Cole for less expensive and less proven talent. The Pirates did nothing in free agency, though they were able to grab Dickerson -- an All-Star for Tampa Bay last season -- in February. Dickerson's arrival gives Pittsburgh some stability in the outfield, but the Pirates still have some serious power issues outside of Bell, who finished third in NL Rookie of the Year voting. Pittsburgh finished 29th in the majors in home runs in 2017, and while McCutchen and Dickerson's numbers are comparable, the rest of the lineup isn't exactly imposing. If Marte can put his suspension-marred 2017 behind him, if Polanco and his hamstrings can stay healthy, if Moran proves he can do more than spell Freese at third, and if Taillon, Kuhl and Williams all improve, Pittsburgh could be competitive. That's a lot of "ifs," probably a few too many.

MINNESOTA: 2017: 85-77, second place, lost to Yankees in wild-card game.
MANAGER: Paul Molitor (fourth season).
ADDITIONS: RHP Lance Lynn, RHP Jake Odorizzi, DH-1B Logan Morrison, RHP Fernando Rodney, RHP Addison Reed, LHP Zach Duke, SS-3B Erick Aybar, RHP Michael Pineda.
SUBTRACTIONS: RHP Matt Belisle, RHP Bartolo Colon, C Chris Gimenez, DH-1B Kennys Vargas, LHP Hector Santiago, LHP Glen Perkins, LHP Buddy Boshers, RHP Michael Tonkin.
OUTLOOK: After their massive 26-win turnaround last season, earning Molitor the AL Manager of the Year award and a new contract through the 2020 season, the Twins were already on the upswing with their 25-and-under core of Berrios, Buxton, Sano, Rosario and Kepler. Then, after spring training began, they traded for Odorizzi and signed Morrison and Lynn, all at market-bargain prices. They've already had some setbacks, with finger surgery for Santana expected to keep him out for most or all of April, and the gut-punch news of Polanco's suspension, plus the uncertainty that surrounds Sano. But this is a team, even with the bold offseason moves made by AL heavyweights Boston and New York, and the strength of reigning AL Central champion Cleveland, that has the talent and spunk to be right in the playoff mix. With Hughes and Tyler Duffey on track for long-relief roles and a spate of well-regarded prospects set to fill out the rotation at Triple-A Rochester, this is as much starting pitching depth as the Twins have had in years. After using 16 different starters in 2017, they needed that. Rodney, Reed and Duke were important additions to bolster the bullpen, too, after Minnesota relievers ranked 22nd in the majors with a collective 4.40 ERA.

PREVIEW

Pirates continue to chase teams above them in standings vs. Twins

The National League wild-card race is tightening and the Pittsburgh Pirates are still hanging around.

After splitting a four-game series with former teammate Andrew McCutchen and the Giants in San Francisco, the Pirates went into their off-day on Monday just five games back of the Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies for the two postseason berths, with three teams standing in between.

They'll try to close that gap Tuesday when they take on the Minnesota Twins in the opener of a two-game interleague series at Target Field behind right-hander Jameson Tallion, who notched his second complete game of the season his last time out, holding the Rockies to two runs despite giving up 10 hits and a walk in a 10-2 victory on Aug. 7 at Coors Field.

"I've watched 1,300 or 1,400 ballgames here and you don't see a lot of complete games," said Pirates manager Clint Hurdle, who was with the Rockies from 2002 to 2009. "I told him when he came off that it's special. It doesn't happen often."

The only National League pitcher to throw two complete games this season, Tallion has held opponents to three runs or less in each of his last 13 starts. Since June 1, he's 7-4 with a 2.95 ERA.

"I'm lucky in that I put (batters) on the ground a lot when I'm pitching right," Taillon said after facing the Rockies. "That's kind of my game when I'm going right. You just need to stay focused and execute the next pitch."

Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli hopes to be back in the lineup for the series opener. He left the game Saturday after taking a foul tip to the face mask and wasn't in the starting lineup Sunday, but he did appear as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning, striking out against Giants closer Will Smith.

"We'll play it out and see how we go," Hurdle said.

Cervelli didn't report any dizziness or related issues after getting hit but after two stints on the disabled list this season with concussion-related issues, the Pirates are taking a cautious approach with the 32-year-old backstop.

"We're going to continue to take as many precautionary measures as we can when he does take the field behind the plate and continue to be cautious as he does take foul balls off the mask or run into any other challenges," assistant general manager Kevan Graves told a Pittsburgh radio station.

The Twins are juggling catchers these days, too. Bobby Wilson and Mitch Garver have been splitting time behind the plate since starter Jason Castro was lost to a torn meniscus in early May.

Garver, Minnesota's ninth-round pick in the 2013 draft, has seen most of the action so far. He has appeared in 77 games this season, batting .261 with six homers, 26 RBIs and a .761 OPS but is his defensive game remains a work in progress.

Twins manager Paul Molitor acknowledged that he has given more time to Garver in order to help him develop that aspect of his game and likes what he sees so far.

"It's been steady," Molitor said. "It encompasses all areas of catching, from mindfulness of game-calling, blocking balls, catch-and-throw abilities, framing, and just the overall sense that my pitchers have gotten a lot more comfortable throwing with him as this season has gone on."

Wilson's playing time has been limited in large part because offensive struggles. He's batting .165 this season, putting him on pace for a career low in seasons he has played at least 120 games.

"It's worked out fairly well," Molitor said. "It's not easy to navigate a season with two guys who aren't really labeled as everyday guys and try to find the best way to do that."

Minnesota sends right-hander Jake Odorizzi to the mound for the series opener. His 4.50 ERA this season is the highest of his career and he's tied for the team lead in 2018 with 18 home runs allowed.